THE LOWER HOLLYFORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22518, 12 March 1935, Page 5

THE LOWER HOLLYFORD

AUCKLANDER'S RIDING TRIP SOUTHLAND'S SCENIC BEAUTIES The comparatively little-known beauties of Lower Hollyford Valley were described last evening by Miss Elsie K. Morton, of Auckland, who has just completed a holiday trip through the Upper, and Lower Hollyford and the MariapouriWest Coast Sounds districts. " While a great many people seemed to know all about the Upper Hollyford and the Eglinton Valley-Milford route," said Miss Morton last evening, "I found very few who knew anything about the Lower Hollyford track, which follows "the course of the Hollyford River down to Lake M'Kerrow and Martin's Bay. The track is an old one, having been used for many years as a pack-track to Martin's Bay. It is now rough in places, but the beauty of the scenery more than compensates for that. We took horses, but had to lead them down the long descent from Lake Howden, and also ascending the Homer Saddle —this, _by the way,, should not be confused with the saddle of the same name in the Upper Hollyford. We rode through magnificent a great deal of the way the track also leading through river flats and valleys that some day will certainly become rich grazing laud. The clover was knee deep in many places, and cocksfoot and other grasses also grew abundantly. There seems little doubt that before many years have passed a road will be put through the Lower as well as* the Upper Hollyford, bringing settlement to this fertile but at present almost inaccessible area." As a tramping route, the Lower Hollyford, in Miss Morton's opinion, is not one for any save hardened enthusiasts. Both the Hollyford and Pyke are swift, dangerous rivers, and no crossing can be attempted when in flood. At the present time they are unusually low, and .their fording presented no difficulties whatsoever.

"The chief scenic beauty of the trip," said Miss Morton, "was the grandeur of snow-crowned Mounts Tukoko and Madeline, as seen from the Pyke Hut at the head of Lake Alabaster, a beautiful little lake, where there is a boat for those who wish to row rather than walk round the shores. We were a week on the trip, but I saw nothing more beautiful than this combination of lake, forest, mountain, and river scenery at Alabaster."

On her return from the Lower Hollyford Miss Morton visited the Eglinton Valley road works, tramping eight miles farther on up the Canyon and spending a night at the Homer Hut: Her tour also included the Lake Manapouri-Deep Cove walking trip and a portion of the beautiful Fiordland Round Trip opened last year by Mr Leslie Murrell. " Both the Deep Cove and the Bradshaw Sound tracks have been greatly improved since 1 was over them last summer," said Miss Morton, "and I am still of the opinion there is no track in New Zealand 'to exeell the Round Trip for variety of interest and beauty. It is now a trip any good walker can do without difficulty, whereas the Lower Hollyford is certainly for experienced hampers only. You southerners arc extremely fortunate in having such a wealth of scenic beauty at your very doors," she added. A considerable number of Aucklanders have already come to Southland to do the Round Trip, and it is a surprise to find there arc still so many of your own trampers and lovers of out-of-doors who are unfamiliar with its beauties."